Why today is sickest day of the year

AN outbreak of winter blues was forecast to strike today - with hundreds of thousands taking `sickies' from work. Surveys have suggested the first Monday in February is the worst day of the year for absenteeism, leading to it being labelled National Sickie Day.

AN outbreak of winter blues was forecast to strike today - with hundreds of thousands taking `sickies' from work.

Surveys have suggested the first Monday in February is the worst day of the year for absenteeism, leading to it being labelled National Sickie Day.

Post-Christmas blues, poor weather, credit card bills and a long wait for the next holiday have all been blamed for workers wanting to stay in bed.

The Employment Law Advisory Services estimates that sickness absence could cost British industry é27m today.

Spokesman Peter Mooney said 310,000 workers could phone in sick, adding: "Poor weather, long dark nights and a general dissatisfaction with official holidays all mean that early February is a very popular time for workers to take an extra `duvet day'.

"Add that to the fact that almost three-quarters of skivers prefer to fake illness on a Monday, and it makes today the worst day of the year for employers."

But claims that many workers will be feigning illnesses were attacked as `hugely insulting' by union leaders.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "February is slap-bang in the middle of the cold and flu season and to suggest that the thousands of employees who are genuinely off ill today are throwing a `sickie' is hugely insulting."